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NAVOPLAN

Port Intelligence Brief

Vinalhaven, United States

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63 Verified Intelligence Items

52Verified
Intelligence

28Official
Sources

89%Overall
Confidence

📍

CoordinatesN 44 2' 60.0000"
W 68 49' 59.9988"

⚓

Harbor ProfileNorth Atlantic Ocean
Size: Very Small

🛂

EntranceTidal Range: 8.86 ft
Depth: 11.15 ft

🕒

Port StatusPort of Entry: Yes
Shelter: Good

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Last UpdateJun 28, 2026
09:30 ET

🧭 Approach & Entrance 7 items

🛟 Shelter & Refuge 6 items

⚠ Local Cautions 8 items

🛒 Crew Rest & Resupply 7 items

☎ Harbor / Authority 5 items 🔒

📡 Contacts & VHF 7 items 🔒

🛥 Marinas 6 items 🔒

⛽ Fuel & Utilities 4 items 🔒

🛂 Clearance & Formalities 7 items 🔒

🚑 Medical & Emergency 6 items 🔒

1 - 10

Current Briefing

Approach & Entrance

Vinalhaven approach intelligence includes pilotage, entrance channel depths, harbor communications, traffic density, anchoring restrictions, and operational cautions for arrival planning.

1 - 1

Verified Intelligence

Charting Authority And Products

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

NOAA (U.S. Office of Coast Survey) is the official charting authority; Penobscot Bay ENC/custom package and NOAA publications (Coast Pilot 1, Ch.7) cover Vinalhaven/Carvers Harbor. Several raster/chart numbers for Penobscot Bay (e.g., 13302, 13305) have been superseded/canceled in NOAA catalog—use current ENC/custom packages and Coast Pilot for official guidance.

95% Confidence

Sailing Directions Reference

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

U.S. Coast Pilot 1, Chapter 7 (Penobscot Bay and approaches) contains approach descriptions, hazards, anchorages, and pilotage notes for Vinalhaven/Carvers Harbor.

95% Confidence

Aids To Navigation At Entrance

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Carvers Harbor Entrance Light 2: position 44°02'03"N, 68°50'37"W; 19 ft above water; shown from an iron spindle with a red triangular daymark on the west end of Green Ledge. Heron Neck Light (44°01'30"N, 68°51'44"W) has a white sector marking the fairway from the southwest.

95% Confidence

Pilotage And Recommended Under-Keel Clearance

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Pilotage: compulsory for foreign vessels and U.S. vessels in foreign trade with draft ≥9 ft entering Penobscot Bay/River; Penobscot Bay pilots available (Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association). Recommended minimum under-keel clearances for Penobscot Bay and River: 3 ft for outer bay/channel transits, 2 ft north of Turtle Head, 1 ft at berthing areas (per local recommendations in Coast Pilot).

94% Confidence

Entrance Character And Controlling Depth

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

There are four approach channels to Carvers Harbor; controlling depth in the entrance channel is 19 ft (midchannel) between Potato Island and Dodge Point on the north side of the entrance.

93% Confidence

Charted Shoals And Reported Obstructions

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Noted local hazards: James and Willies Ledge (5 ft, rocks awash at south end); Heron Neck Ledge (7 ft, unmarked); Folly Ledge (bare, unmarked); reported obstruction at 44°02'33"N, 68°50'13"W covered 3 ft (reported survey/notice).

92% Confidence

Tidal Currents And Prediction Service

Official Source · Verified Jun 28, 2026

Tidal currents in West Penobscot Bay are generally light (velocities up to about 0.6 knot cited); Coast Pilot directs mariners to NOAA Tidal Current Prediction Service (tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov) for specific times/directions/velocities at locations in the area.

88% Confidence